Car-coupling.



No. 762,308. PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

A. R. HEATH.

GAR COUPLING. 'v l APPLITIOR FILED PEB. 24. 1904.

F0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@mi memes W als A @Hoz nui .v A n s Y 0A 7 No. 762,308. v l PATBNTED JUNE 14, 1904.

- A. E.' HEATH.

GAR GOUPLING.

APPLICATION vFILED PEB. 24. 1904.

N0 MODEL. I 2 SHEETS-SEBBT 2.

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Patented June 14, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEE-ICE.

" ALFRED R. HEATH, OF COVINGTON, INDIANA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 762,308, dated June 14, 1904.

Application filed February 24, 1904. Serial No. 195,061. (No model.) i

To a/ZZ whom it 717mm concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED R. HEATH, aciti- Zen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county of Fountainand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Oouplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements iu car-.couplings and to that general construction of these devices for wh ich Letters Patent of the United States No. 634,341 were issued to me October 3, 1899.

The invention essentially aims to provide novel detail improvements specially designed to admit of ready removal and replacement of the parts-ofv the coupling and whereby the whole assemblance of such parts shall be greatly simplified, both as regards the structure as well as the operation thereof.

Fora full description ofthe invention and the meritsthereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionrand accompanying drawings.

Vhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modiiication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a carcoupling structure in accordance with my improved invention. Fig. 2 is a. perspective View looking toward the front of a car, showing more clearly the manner of mounting the coupling members thereon. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line X X of Fig. 1 through the lower portion ofthe supporting means carried by the cars to bring out the arrangement of the coupling members when in engagement or when coupled. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of an end of a car, parts broken away, one of the coupling members being shown in applied position, the means for operating said member being more clearly disclosed. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of one of the coupling members.Y Fig. .6 is a detail view of the rock-shaft. n Fig. 7is va detail perspective view of the'lift-bar.

Corresponding and like parts are referred .ment of this element.

to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the Vdrawings by the same reference characters.

The general structure of the coupling as shown and describedherein is substantially the same as that covered in my former patent hereinbefore mentioned and will therefore be generally described.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the car-bodies i to which the coupling is attached.

The carbody is provided with the usual spring-buffers 2, and beneath the buffers 2 and pendent from the under side of the car are disposed spaced draft-timbers 3, which directly support the coupling' members 4. The coupling is of `the hook-and-catch type and comprises the coupling members 4, above mentioned, each of which consists of a body provided at one end with a draw-bar 5 and at the other end with a hook 6. The draw-bar 5 of each coupling member is provided with a longitudinal slot 7, within which is disposed a spring followerblock 8, which engages normally the rear side of a rock-shaft 9, upon which each coupling member 4 is mounted. The rock-shaft 9 is journaled in bearings provided in the supporting-beams 3, and said rock-shaft is received by the forward end of the slot 7 of the coupling member 4, the follower-block 8 normally holding the draw-bar in the position shown most clearly in Fig. 1. A coil-spring 10 is interposed between the rear end of the drawbar 5 and the followerblock 8 and constitutes means for normally holding the draw-bar of the coupling member within the forward end of the slotted portion 7 thereof. Under certain conditions of service a shock or the like incurs a likelihood of breakage of the coil-spring 10, and to more fully and adequately protect againstliability of displacement of the coilspring 10 a guide-bar 11 is provided, which dis detachably mounted upon the draw-bar 5,

so as to cooperate With the spring 10 to positively obviate all danger of accidental displace- The guide-bar 11 passes through an opening in the rear end of the draw-bar of the coupling member and is provided at one end with a threaded portion 12, to screw into a threaded opening in the springfollower 8. The opposite end of the guide- IOO bar 11 is provided with a handle or head 13 by which the guide-bar may be detached expeditiously from the follower-block by application of ordinary tools. The guide-bar 11 not only serves to positively prevent displacement of the spring 10 from the slotted drawbar, but cooperates with the said spring to guide same in its movement as pulling force is placed upon the hook 6 of the coupling member.

My invention also embodies a novel manner of mounting and construction ofthe rock-shaft 9, which supports each of the coupling members 4. As has been noted before in the description, the rock-shaft 9 is journaled in the supporting-beams 3, and to hold said rock-shaft in such position same is provided with a de- -pressed portion or recess 14. The recess 14 is disposed between the ends of the rock-shaft and upon that portion thereof which is received in the space between the supporting-beams 3. The recess 14 forms a seat which receives the engaging side of the follower-block 8, and this engagement of the follower-block prevents lateral displacement of the rock shaft in a manner which will be readily appreciated. In other words, the formation of the seat 14 of the rock-shaft established an interlocking connection between the Jfollower and the said rockshaft, the purpose of which is obvious. In order that the parts of the coupling may be detached for purposes of renewal or otherwise, the end poi-.ions of the rock-shaft 9 of each coupling member 4 are extended beyond the sides of the supporting beams 3 and are squared, as shown at 15. The squared ends of the rock-shaft 9 admit of application of a wrench, crank-handle, or other suitable means by which the rock-shaft may be given a slight revolving movement to throw the followerblock 8 out of engagement with the seat 14. When the above has been accomplished. and it will be readily noted that same maybe done by manual power, which is essentially desirable,the rock-shaft may be laterally displaced, as will be clearly seen.

The coupling members are of like construction upon each of the cars, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the hook 6 of each of the members 4 is adapted to engage the rock-shaft upon which the other member is mounted. rIhe bodies of each of the coupling members occupy an vapproximately level position normally, the Weight of the draw-bar serving to dispose the hook 6 in such aposition that same will automatically engage as the coupling members are brought together.

It is designed that the operating means for uncoupling the members 4 be of such character as to obviate all likelihood of injury to the person uncoupling said members, and with this in View a lift-bar 16 is provided, which is mounted for vertical movement upon the adjacent ends of the car. The upper end of the lift-bar 16 is provided with a handle 17,

by which the said lift-bar is actuated, and the lower end of the said bar is rearwardly and laterally extended to form an engaging meniber 18, which is received by a slot 19, formed adjacent the upper edge of the draw-bar 5 of the adjacent coupling member. The member 18 of the lift-bar engages the draw-bar in rear of the rock shaft 9, so that upon upward movement of the-lift-bar the draw-bar 5 will be elevated and thehook 6, forming a part of the body of the coupling member, is disengaged. When the coupling members are in engaging relation, laterally-extended lugs 20, formed upon each of said members and forward of the rock-shaft 9, strike the body of the coupling member adjacent which they are disposed to facilitate the disengagement of the adjacent hooks 6 of the other coupling member upon operation of the lift-bar 16. rIhe lift-bar is provided with an extension 21, which is adapted to engage a staple 22 or like element rigidly attached tothe car to hold the lift-bar in an uppermost position. An auxiliary handle 23 may be projected from the lift bar for operation thereof by one standing at the side of the car in uncoupling the members 4. Openings 24 may be formed upon the upper portions of the respective coupling members 4 to receive links, so as to admit of use of either of said coupling members in connection with the common link-andpin coupling devices at present in use. A link 25 is shown partially broken away in Fig. 1, carrying out the above idea, to couple automatically with the Master Car-Builders type of couplers or others now in use. Nibs may be projected from the rear end of the slotted por- -tion of the draw-bars and also from the rear side of the follower to be received by the end portions of the spring 10 to assist in preventing lateral displacement of this spring. The follower-block is also provided with fianges embracing the sides of the coupling member to prevent displacement of said block from the slotted draw-bar. Clevises may be secured over the front ends of the draft-timbers and firmly bolted thereto,and chilled-steel blocks may be disposed in rear of said clevises and in front of the rock-shaft for obvious purposes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a car-coupling, the combination with a support, a rock-shaft mounted in said support, a coupling member mounted upon said rock-shaft and comprising a body having a hook member at one end and a slotted drawbar at the other end, a spring-actuated follower mounted in the slotted draw-bar and bearing against the rock-shaft aforesaid, and an interlocking connection between said follower and the rock-shaft.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of spaced supports, a rock-shaft mounted in said supports and provided with a seat at a point .TOO

IIO

IIS

ISO

between the said supports, a coupling member mounted 'upon the rock-shaft and comprising a body having a hook member at one end and a draw-bar at the other end, said draw-bar beinglongitudinally slotted, asprin gactuated follower mounted within the'slotted portion of the draw-bar and bearing against the rock-shaft, said follower being received by the seat of said rock-shaft.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination of a Support, a rock-shaft journaled in said support, a coupling member mounted upon said rock-shaft and comprising a body having a hook member at one end and a longitudinallyslotted draw-bar at the other end, a follower mounted in the slotted portion of the drawbar and bearing against the rock-shaft, a coilspring interposed between the rear end of the draw-bar and the follower, and a guide-bar passed through the rear end of the draw-bar and detachably secured to the follower aforesaid, the coil-spring being mounted upon said guide-bar.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination of a support, a rock-shaft mounted in said support,

a coupling member mounted upon the said rock-shaft and comprising a body having a hook member at one end and a longitudinallyslotted draw-bar at the other end, a follower mounted in the slotted portion of the drawbar and bearing against the rear side of the rock-shaft, a guide-bar passed through the rear end of the draw-bar into the slotted portion thereof and detachably secured to the follower, and a coil-spring interposed between the rear end of the draw-bar and the follower and mounted upon the guide-bar aforesaid.

5. In a ear-coupling, the combination of a support, a rock-shaft mounted in said support, a coupling member mounted upon said rockshaft and comprising a body having a hook member at one end and a longitudinally-slotted draw-bar at the other end, a follower mounted in the slotted portion of the drawbar and bearing against the rear side of the rock-shaft, a guide-bar passed through the rear end of the draw-bar and having its inner end extended into the slotted portion thereof, said inner end of the guid e-bar being threaded into the follower, the opposite end of the guide-bar being provided with an operating head or handle, and a coil-spring interposed between the follower and the rear end of the draw-bar and mounted upon the guide-bar.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination with spaced supporting-beams, a rock-shaftmounted in said beams, said rock-shaft being provided with a seat or depression at a point between the spaced supporting-beams and having its ends extended beyond said beams and squared, a coupling member mounted upon the rock-shaft between its ends and comprising a body having a hool member at one end and a longitudinally-slotted draw-bar at the other end, a follower-block mounted in the slotted portion of the draw-bar and engaging the seat or depression of the rock-shaft normally, a guide-bar passed through the rear end of the draw-bar and extended within the slotted portion of said draw-bar, the inner end of said guide-bar being threaded into the follower-block, the outer end of said guide-bar being provided with a head or handle, a coilspring disposed within the slotted portion of the draw-barand mounted upon the guidebar, said spring being interposed between the rear end of the draw-barv and the followerblock, and operating means for elevating the draw-bar to eHiect the uncoupling movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I afilix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED R. HEATH. Witnesses:

O. S. DouGLAss, CLARENCE W. NELSON. 

